However, two games is only two games. Sure, 48 is less than 82, but to make as much noise as has been made feels, to me, asinine.

Tonight the Flames play a team with only one more point than they have: the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks have gotten off to an even shakier start than the Flames, giving up 7 goals on opening night to the Anaheim Ducks and losing in overtime in Edmonton on Sunday.

Last year, the Flames finished about even with Vancouver for the first time in years (3-2-1). With a Western Conference and division heavy schedule, Calgary will have to make hay against some of their closet rivals in order to make the post-season.

The Line-Up

Cammalleri-Backlund-Iginla

Glencross-Tanguay-Stempniak

Baertschi-Stajan-Comeau

Begin-Horak-Jackman

Bouwmeester-Giordano

Wideman-Brodie

Smith-Sarich

Kiprusoff

I'm already starting to question Hartley's decision-making when it comes to lines, although to be fair to the new bench boss he's still figuring out what he has with this roster.

That said, the existing set up above seems like it will get murdered if they try and go power versus power, but there's also no line that you can bury. To me, it looks like the Flames have the players for 3 second lines and a third line that you can feed to the wolves, but Hartley is going with 2 second lines, a generic third line and a 4th line. It is nice to see a natural center on the top unit in Backlund, however.

It seems Jones is getting bumped tonight in favor of Steve Begin, although with Hudler and Cervenka slated to return on Saturday, Roman Horak is the good bet to be sent down to Abbotsford given his waivers exepmt (and would be better served playing rather than watching from the pressbox as well).

The defense looks suspect to me as well - as much as I like Brodie, I'm not sure he's better suited to a top-4 role then Butler is, and given the line combos yesterday Butler could be a healthy scratch tonight, which is insane. Giordano had a terrible game one, Bouwmeester had a terrible game two, and Wideman just looks completely lost on the defending side of the red line. A shakeup is needed, for sure, but moving Butler out of the line-up altogether seems unncessarily harsh.

The Opponent

Sedin-Sedin-Kassian

Higgins-Burrows-Hansen

Raymond-Schroeder-Weise

Volpatti-Malhotra-Lapierre

Hamhuis-Bieksa

Edler-Garrison

Ballard-Tanev

Schneider

There's been a faux-controversy regarding the Canucks' goaltending situation since...well, pretty much since ever. In my opinion, the better goalie started the season on the bench, but the difference between the two of them is probably pretty small. It remains to be seen how Schneider will hold up throughout a whole season, so it's probably a good idea that Mike Gillis held on to Luongo.

Obviously the prominent name missing from the above roster is Ryan Kesler, who is currently rehabbing from both shoulder and wrist surgeries and still has no timetable to return. Kesler is likely the best single player on the team - or, rather, the player that effects the team the most with his consistent Selke-caliber play. David Booth is also out long-term, which means the Canucks highly adept second line has been completely hollowed-out to start the season. As a result, Vancouver is far more vulnerable in the middle of the rotation - to the degree the Flames arguably have the better depth after the top line up front.

Sum It Up

Even if the Flames lose this one, I wouldn't be too worked up about it. They'd have one basically "equal" loss against Anaheim, a loss against a top-5 Western Conference team and another against their most hated rival/top-5 Western Conference team. Point is, two losses to good teams and an even game against another playoff bubble team isn't a big deal. The issue, more than anything, is timing. It's just not good optics for the team to have a start like this after the past three seasons under Brent Sutter.

Saying that, it's always nice to see those pukes on the West Coast lose. Go Flames.

Enemy Perspective - Thom Drance sets things up from a Vancouver perspective at Canucks Army. Swing by and make sure to brink the smack talk.

Justin is a 23-year-old Flames fan who also happens to be pursuing a double major at the University of Calgary. He has played hockey at high levels, enjoys wearing shorts and tends to drink far too much Grasshopper. Please don't hate him.

It could have been any member of the top-4 defense core really. They've all had their struggles. Heck, Im surprised it's not Gio because he has been mostly awful. And I'm one of the biggest Gio boosters out there.

I think we're going to see a lot of experimenting by the coaching staff for the first 10 games at least.

From the eye test it seems that the flames younger players (backlund bearschi brodie) seem to be playing better than the vets. I'm not sure about the actual stats but despite opening with two losses I still have some measure of hope for this season. If these young guys continue playing like it seems they have been then maybe letting iggy walk won't sting so much. Also hudler and cervenka aren't back yet so hopefully they will have an impact.

My question is what to do with all of the depth players on a team full of depth with no actual number one guys.

I don't understand benching Butler over Sarich and/or Smith. This tactic makes the Regehr trade look even worse. Also sitting Jones over Begin and Stajan drives me crazy. We need someone to win faceoffs and Jones does, plus he's a big body down the middle. I know it's a new coach and it's early in the season but this coach-potato isn't pleased.
Go Flames!

I'm willing to give Gio a pass for now because we KNOW how good he is, might just take a game or two more. But at the same time, we KNOW how bad Sarich is, but consistently he is getting in above guys, it's mind boggling.

If they bench Butler it's silly. The whole Defense has looked shaky to start the season.

Interesting forward shake-up I wonder if it's just a reaction to it being a road game (1st change). Or maybe Hartley is trying to re-create the 2008 1st line (Cammy-two-way center-Iggy) with Backlund in place of Conroy. Regardless, I was kind of enjoying the Baertschi-Backlund pairing... I thought they worked well together.

Kent: How has vancouver been coached the last two games? I mean in the absense of Kesler have they been using the same extreme zone-start combinations that we've been accustomed to from the 'nucks the last few years or have the Sedins been made to pull their weight in area's other then the attack zone?

True but the coaching staff is coming in pretty fresh so I understand why they are making some judgements based on the performances so far.

I dislike that though, you are gonna judge guys off of a single game or two vs what he should have studied of the team from the last several seasons..... that just doesn't sound right. He should be giving the guys that have showed at least from last season they should be playing and if they can't hack it, let some of the outsiders a shot.

They are giving a spot to a guy that is barely able to hold it over guys that would excel at it because they had one bad game while the other guy is just coasting on mediocrity and cause he wasn't bad for one game, mediocrity is enough to keep him in. Guess we have our 2013 slogan:

Im sure that's happening too, but it's human nature to act on what you personally see and experience...especially for a new coaching staff who is more or less tasked with coming in and changing the way things were done before.

Im resigned to the fact that the first 10 games at least is going to be a feeling out period, likely with some superficially odd decisions thrown in. I won't really start judging the coaching staff until we're into the season and their decision making establishes habits and patterns.

My guess is that the lack of good play is because only 4 of the players on the Flames played during the lockout, and 3 of those got hurt. What was Iginla doing? Where was JBo? Playing pond hockey with your kids and making drunk-driving commercials is not the way to stay fresh.

Well I guess they can't scratch Jay-Bo, heaven forbid the Flames coaching staff break that ironman streak. Sitting Butler isn't harsh, he's another softy like Jay-Bo. True, I would take Butler over Sarich but you need a complimentary balance of shut down guys and offensive guys.

Most of the Flames D is offensive, which is why a guy like Wideman is getting burned and turning the puck over.

The only good sign is the Flames have outshot their opponents in the first two games. It would be interesting to know their SH%. Eventually, they are going to score and Kipper is going to be back to being Kipper.

Schneider is a very poor puck handler, the Flames should try to capitalize on that.

Horak and Brodie were the best players on the ice last game. I know Horak (and Brodie) could go back down. Do they want to win or appease the veterans and suspect signings by Feaster and Sutter (Stajan, Sarich etc). Still like Sarich over Smith but not Butler. Maybe good for Horak in the AHL but they could have moved him up too; a Horak, Backlund and Baertschi line would have been worth a look IMO. Why not try something new that might work instead of the same old entitlement based on 1-way contract.

I looked at blyve and it might work. That said I have personally enjoyed the active (but static) comment strings more so far this year because moderating and monitoring the coveritlive chat was a lot of work.

I looked at blyve and it might work. That said I have personally enjoyed the active (but static) comment strings more so far this year because moderating and monitoring the coveritlive chat was a lot of work.

There are lots of us willing to moderate and help, but yeah the commenting system is nice, just much more fun when it was live. But this will do for now. Till you find the right program anyways.

Butler and Glen-X for Nino and a 1st. Gives the Isles a top 4 def for them anyway plus a very good winger for Tavares. Gives us potential in Nino and a coveted 1st rounder that could very well be a high one. Isles need NHLers more than prospects at this point and the Flames need to look to the future. Glen-X is a steep price to pay but..

Sorry, cant agree. GlenX is pretty much everything you want in a player (except the odd stupid penalty), grit, scoring, team guy, cheap (long term) and he has a NMC. The only way I look at trying to move him is for a true 1C. With the NMC or NTC, no way he chooses to go to the NYI's

Sorry, cant agree. GlenX is pretty much everything you want in a player (except the odd stupid penalty), grit, scoring, team guy, cheap (long term) and he has a NMC. The only way I look at trying to move him is for a true 1C. With the NMC or NTC, no way he chooses to go to the NYI's

I know Glen-X is quality but we are going nowhere with him and we have to give up quality in order to move forward. The idea of playing with Tavares may be enough to get him to waive.

Wow... Not sure I'd feel good about giving up Glencross, and to be honest, I don't think the Isles would give up Nino AND a first for Butler and Glennie.

They would be looking at someone like Backlund to be thrown in for that deal.

They may want more but are on the hunt for quality vets. Snow is under pressure to improve and the idea of getting 2 good NHLers who will immediately help could be very tempting. He has youth and more prospects following anyway. If they improve and the pick is 12-17 range, it wouldn't look bad for them.If we got lucky and Nino progresses and the pick is top 10 (Barkov) we win. The immediate risk is Calgary's but the payoff may be greater.

Ya, I see what you're saying. Personnaly I'd rather package more vets to get that return than give up Glencross. I really like him on this team, and to be honest, I don't think he would give the Islanders what he does for the Flames.